The Ghost of Marie Antoinette

Does the Ghost of Marie Antoinette Exist?

There has been a fascination with the life and times of Marie Antoinette in recent years. The movie Marie Antoinette aired in 2006 starring the beautiful Kirsten Dunst. Marie Antoinette Halloween costumes have even become a Halloween norm, but why the obsession and interest in this deceased and many-times controversial Queen of France? Could it be that the ghost of Marie Antoinette herself is fueling this newfangled intrigue in her tragic life?

Marie Antoinette is a figure in history that is surrounded with much debate and controversy, yet also loved in many facets. Unfortunately, Marie Antoinette died prematurely and many believe that her soul is lingering...forever earthbound. Read on to learn more of the life of Marie Antoinette and the chilling yet sorrowful accounts of the ghost of Marie Antoinette.

Kirsten Dunst playing Marie Antoinette

Kirsten Dunst playing Marie Antoinette

A Brief History of the Life of Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette was born in Austria on November 2nd, 1755 to the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa. Her original name was Maria Antonia Josephina Johanna (it would be through her residence in France that she would come to be known as Marie Antoinette). She was loved by her parents, though sometimes neglected by her mother, but was also a spoiled child...even though she was indeed their fifteenth child.

Fast forward through her childhood years - when Marie Antoinette was only fourteen years old (1770), her parents promised her hand in marriage to the young Dauphin of France. Marie Antoinette had to leave her home and family and literally everything she knew to go and live with a complete stranger...not to mention a wimpy, pompous stranger, at that. Marie Antoinette and her new husband didn't seem to have much in common. Marie Antoinette loved to throw lavish parties and really relish in the rich life, while her husband was a little more reserved...or boring, one could say. Can you blame a teenager for wanting to live life to the fullest? Isn't that what most teens do?

Well, four years after her wedding, the Dauphin of France assumed the throne and became King...with his beautiful, young Marie Antoinette acquiring the title of Queen of France. She was a mere nineteen years old when she assumed the throne next to King Louis XVI. Already, Marie Antoinette was developing a reputation among the French people as being overly extravagant and profligate. Rumors spread that Marie Antoinette was spending all of the King's money on fine gowns, jewelry, parties, gambling, and theatrics. The King himself, Louis XVI, denied the Queen's sexual advances and it is said that Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI didn't consummate their marriage until seven years after the wedding.

The French people constantly questioned Marie Antoinette's loyalty and care for her French country, stating that she was in cahoots with Austria (her home country and yet the French's enemy). Rumors flew around the countryside that Marie Antoinette was having affairs with men of the French court including one of the King's younger brothers. Enter the Diamond Necklace Affair...though I will not go into the details of that cacophony you can read of it elsewhere on the internet. The French people almost poked fun at the beautiful, blonde Queen calling her names equivalent to "whore" and the like. Many claimed that she was spending the country's money in frivolity.

Years later, the King was able to consummate the marriage and Queen Marie Antoinette gave birth to four children. Her party life started to tame down, and the Queen spent most of her time taking care of her children and settling her family. But at this point, despite her efforts to be a good wife, mother and Queen, the French people were already angered at the economic crisis...and began taking out their anger on the royals. Keep in mind too, that Marie Antoinette gave much to the poor and impoverished families in their times of need. But, alas, no good deed goes unpunished.

After much turmoil and struggle trying to keep the French people calm and at bay amidst an economic downturn, the King and Queen finally decided to flee France for fear of their lives. The people had been causing uproars and mobs had been raiding royal courts and buildings. This was the start of the French Revolution.

Fast forward through the horribly terrifying years that Marie Antoinette had to endure alongside her quiet, unsupportive husband - two of Marie Antoinette's children passed from illnesses. In their moment of fleeing the country, and being almost to the border of France & Austria, the King and Queen and their family were discovered and dragged back to Paris for a trial.

King Louis XVI was convicted and found guilty of treason and died at the guillotine in 1793...followed by the still-loyal and steadfast Marie Antoinette on October 16th, 1793. It is said that her body was not even given a proper burial...it was thrown in an unmarked grave. Her head was put on display for the sickened, angry crowd who watched her die at the spoils of the guillotine. All through her trial and execution, Marie Antoinette remained loving and calm. She spoke only of her love for her family and country.

Dying a tragic death in turmoil may have kept Marie Antoinette's spirit bound to the earth...does she still walk the halls of the Versailles Palace?

Could this be the ghost of Marie Antoinette?

Marie Antoinette's Private Quarters

The Ghost of Marie Antoinette

The ghost of Marie Antoinette has been seen in quite a few places. She has been seen at the Petit de Trianon, Palace of Versailles, the Conciergie, and even a house in Maine.

The first very popular story of two women catching a sighting of Marie Antoinette at the Petit de Trianon can actually be read in full detail by clicking here (hubber Nell Rose wrote this beautiful account of that ghostly experience). But briefly, two women visited the Petit de Trianon in 1901 and experienced a "slip in time", and saw what appeared to be Marie Antoinette. Or were they actually seeing a re-play of the time when Marie Antoinette first learned of an angry mob heading to the Trianon? Either way, their story is compelling and very spooky. In addition to the time slip tale of the ghost of Marie Antoinette, many visitors claim to see a white mist lingering by Marie Antoinette's bed at the Trianon and also feel cold spots on a regular basis.

At the Conciergie, Marie Antoinette's ghost is said to be seen on her death's anniversary on October 16th. The Conciergie was the prison where Marie Antoinette was kept before her trial and execution in 1793. Cold spots and voices have been experienced here dozens of times.

The ghost of Marie Antoinette has been felt by sensitive people at the palace of Versailles, as well. The picture to the right has been assumed to be a picture of the ghost of Marie Antoinette. What do you think?

Perhaps a very strange place to see the ghost of Marie Antoinette is at a home in Maine. The Edgecomb home owned by the late Clark family is said to be haunted by the ghost of Marie Antoinette, but why? The Clark family says they were part of a conspiracy to aid in the flee of Marie Antoinette from France and to the United States. She had even sent some of her possessions ahead of time to the Clark home in Edgecomb, including paintings and sculptures. People say that Marie Antoinette haunts this home as well as the coast of Maine. There has been sightings of the ghost of Marie Antoinette here, in full period costume and powdered wig.

Does the ghost of Marie Antoinette indeed haunt all four of these places or is this just a figment of our imaginations...trying desperately to romanticize an already-infamous tale of misunderstandings and mistakes?

I believe that the ghost of Marie Antoinette may visit these places from time to time, but I feel as though she is not earthbound. She has made it to the other side but perhaps visits us when she feels she needs to be remembered and possibly honored. She sure wasn't honored in life, so maybe we could honor her in death.

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Surya Jeet

2 years agofrom India

Hi Kitty please see the email I have received yesterday from a paranormal and I started searching for the fact & came to know about Queen Marie for the first time in my life

Suryajeet tangri, your surprise is totally normal and I understand your doubts. That’s why in this letter I'm giving you the formal proof that will show, without any possible doubt, that you are the person this wonderful “Treasure” is destined for...

I had a meeting at 2 pm at the Château de Versailles with friends to attend a private exposition in the Royal Chapel. I had never visited it before, it is a magnificent place.

After visiting for an hour, one of my friends, who is a journalist, suggested we visit the magnificent Petit Trianon.

For a few minutes, I let go of my thoughts while walking towards the majestic doors of the building. I barely noticed a few men near the sides who were wearing revolution-era costumes. I thought they were characters on a film set, which is common at historical sites.

One of these men called out to me but I didn't answer. My mind was totally fixed on the grand doors I was approaching. I was about 100 feet from the doors when I suddenly stopped.

A few steps in front of me, something extraordinary was happening...

Slowly, what I at first thought was a glare turned into a surprising vision:

A richly-dressed woman from the 18th century court wearing gorgeous jewels, appeared before me. I felt a shiver of apprehension, even though in my profession I'm often faced with many unexplainable things...

Before I could even react, this woman of 30 - 40 years old, seemingly very noble but with an air of perpetual sadness, spoke to me with a strong German accent:

“Don't be afraid, Aasha, you have nothing to fear from me, I won’ t hurt you. I am Maria Antonia Josepha Johana von Habsburg-Lothringen, Queen of France, executed during the Revolution... Better known as Marie-Antoinette.”

When I heard these words, I bowed to show my respect. The vision approached me and put her hand on my shoulder. Curiously, I felt the contact of her hand on my shoulder as if she was real flesh and blood.

“Get up, Aasha, I haven't been queen for a long time. You know about me and my tragic fate. For more than two centuries I have come back to this castle which was a symbol of my power and rank. And I always come to this garden that I loved so much. My spirit haunts this place that I thought about when I was a prisoner at the Louvre awaiting my execution. You must help me find peace for my spirit, my death was too violent...”

She paused for a moment at the mention of this painful memory that over two centuries hadn’t erased... Then she said:

“Aasha, I must ask you to find Suryajeet tangri to give them my most valuable “Treasure” so that this person can experience all the fortune and glory that was mine. ”

Suryajeet tangri, I understood that your future good fortune and wealth had just been sealed during this afternoon through this incredible meeting

out of time with Queen Marie-Antoinette!

“Only this person can receive this gift. Because my Destiny is tied to theirs, more than they know, for a reason that I am forbidden to reveal under pain of eternal damnation to limbo... If they accept this gift, then my spiritual debt will be paid, my spirit will finally find peace and I can finally sleep forever in complete serenity... And as for Suryajeet tangri, they will have a life of glory, great joy and wealth.”

Then, the ghost of this great queen gave me a pleading look:

“Know that every night, I am tormented by my executioners who want to take away my valuable “Treasure”. I have grown weary of waiting for you for years Aasha, and you must act quickly because my power is leaving me and I can’t keep this treasure for much longer. With it goes the peace for my spirit and Suryajeet tangri’s future...

Everything depends on you, Aasha, because my penitence is great and each day I relive my suffering. You are the only one who can contact Suryajeet tangri to tell them about my suffering and their power to end the curse keeping me in this place. Contact them quickly and tell them about the “Treasure”. Tell them that if they accept my present, I will finally be free and they will have a life of wealth and happiness.”

Suddenly the vision of the great Queen disappeared for a few seconds then reappeared before me. She was holding a scroll of parchment in her hand. She looked at my desperately, placed the parchment in my hands and said:

“Act now and find Suryajeet tangri. I don’t have much strength left and if you don’t give them my “Treasure”within 13 days, I’ll never know peace. You must send them this personal message because only they can deliver me. Go now because I don’t have much time.”

Marie-Antoinette’s ghost disappeared suddenly, as my journalist friend tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw that the men in period costumes had also disappeared... there were only tourists and guides.

“What’s wrong?” Nathalie asked me. “You look like you’ve seen a Ghost...” “If only you knew… », I said with a smile hiding my distress... Before asking her: “What happened to the men dressed in revolutionary costumes? Are they filming a historical piece here?”

Surprised, she told me there was no film set or anybody in revolutionary costumes there that day. My friends didn't understand what happened...

I turned to history professor friend who was with us and asked: “Have you ever heard of the ghost of a woman haunting these grounds?” He looked at me for a second, dumbstruck by my question, then told me confidently that for the past two centuries many people had reported seeing the ghost of a woman in period clothing, whom certain people claim is Marie-Antoinette...

So there were others. It hadn't been a hallucination. I thought about the scroll of parchment the Queen had given me. It was no longer in my hands. I looked all around me. Nothing...

I had to trust the evidence... even though there were other people who saw her, my meeting with Queen Marie-Antoinette was just my imagination. That evening as I was heading home I felt strange.

When I arrived home, I was again deeply disturbed. I felt like I was in a sort of dream. You know, one of those dreams where you wake up with an unexplainable feeling it was real. Was it just my imagination or did it really happen?

I was deep in this questioning when I received a mysterious email... signed M.A.J.J.V.H.L. When I opened the email, there was a note for you.

That’s when I understood who the author was this email was: Maria Antonia Josepha Johana Von Habsburg-Lothringe! Or, Marie-Antoinette. The note said:

“Aasha, act quickly because my spirit is tormented and only you can free me. I’m begging you, contact Suryajeet tangri now before it’s too late.

This email arrived to remind me that everything that happened had been real. So I wasn't surprised to find the scroll of parchment at the bottom of my bag.

So, it hadn't been a dream. First the email and now the parchment... Everything was real!

I can imagine your surprise, Suryajeet tangri, but many phenomena like this have already happened. This is called “transcommunication”, when spirits are able to communicate with the real world through modern means of communication (phone, fax, email, etc.). This has been shown and proven by several programs devoted to this kind of phenomenon.

But the scroll of parchment given to me by the Queen is the heart of her priceless, mystic “Treasure”...

Yes,Suryajeet tangri, with this parchment, which contains the priceless

Collection of Magic Rituals and Secrets of the Mystic Treasure of Marie-Antoinette,

I hold in my hands

the “keys” to your future Fortune and Happiness...

If you answer me within 13 days!

If you are asking yourself: Why me? In remembering what the Queen said to me, and using my psychic gifts, I discovered why she chose you, Suryajeet tangri as the eternal beneficiary of her valuable Collection of Secret Rituals. This “Mystic Treasure”, you owe it to one of your very distant grandmothers who was close to the Queen.

I know that this is related to the “Spiritual Debt” that she has towards your grandmother wh

Mona Sabalones Gonzalez

3 years agofrom Philippines

This is a very interesting and sympathetic article about Marie Antoinette. She was very young when she went to France, and at 19 was very young to be a queen. The seven year wait before they consummated the marriage was kind of weird.

AUTHOR

Nicole Canfield

5 years agofrom Summerland

Heidi - It was a while ago when I wrote it, so unfortunately I do not remember. Various resources, books and online.

Heidi

5 years ago

I'm not sure if this was already asked, but what are some of the sources (if any) that you used for this? Thanks (:

AUTHOR

Nicole Canfield

5 years agofrom Summerland

lovebuglena - Thank you! I found her to be quite an interesting figure in history...and the ghost stories are so intriguing.

Lena Kovadlo

5 years agofrom Staten Island, NY

Very interesting and informative hub on Marie Antoinette. I've certainly learned things I never knew about her. It would be interesting to see the movie about her starring Kirsten Dunst.

AUTHOR

Nicole Canfield

6 years agofrom Summerland

trinisha - I would totally believe it. Thank you for sharing!

trinisha

6 years ago

i visited every place related to mary antoinette i felt her ghost in everywhere around me.i saw her cristal clear in room's mirror

AUTHOR

Nicole Canfield

6 years agofrom Summerland

Thanks, amymarie_5. :) Also thanks to pmccray!

amymarie_5

6 years agofrom Chicago IL

Wow, this hub is just amazing. I always loved Marie Antoinette and Kristen Dunst's movie is actually one of my favorites. Interesting to think that she is possibly earthbound. It would make sense considering her tragic death. I would rather think she visits from time to time and enjoying her afterlife.

pmccray

6 years agofrom Utah

Whoa . . interesting history and story of her haunting. I will definitely check out Nell Rose's hub she's one of my favorites as well. Voted up, marked beautiful and interesting.

AUTHOR

Nicole Canfield

6 years agofrom Summerland

Nell - No problem...anytime! You are a brilliant writer, so I love linking to your pages. :) Yes, she was an intriguing historical figure. I hope she's found peace.

Nell Rose

6 years agofrom England

Hi, thanks for the link! I think she was such a mysterious and complex figure that the idea of her still roaming is great for a ghostly night story, maybe she does, the thought of her not having a proper burial would be enough to make her wander on the earth forever, I haven't seen the film, I have seen old ones but not the latest one so I am going to go and find it now, great hub! really interesting, rated up! cheers nell

Wow...this was so scary hub. But I really enjoy all information about the history of Marie Antoniette. Thanks for writing and share with us. Well done and rated up!

Prasetio

The Fastionista

6 years ago

Awesome hub, Kitty! I love a ghost story, and I wouldn't be surprised if Marie Antoinette spent a little time earthbound. That's cool about the Maine haunting, too - not anything I would have guessed! Voted up and awesome!

AUTHOR

Nicole Canfield

6 years agofrom Summerland

DzyMsLizzy - I'll have to check out her site, thanks for sharing!

gryphin - I hadn't either until I started doing a lot of research on Marie Antoinette. She was such a tragic story...but one of my favorite figures in history!

gryphin423

6 years agofrom Florida

Great hub, I love history and throw a ghost in there and I am very happy! I had never heard the Maine connection before. Thanks for sharing!

Liz Elias

6 years agofrom Oakley, CA

Fascinating, and well done. A concise, yet complete history. I only wish I had the budget to travel.....

I am fascinated by the paranormal, as is a personal friend of mine who also writes here on HP. She is actuall a paranormal investigator. Look up "Christine B." I think you'll enjoy her articles.

Voted up and interesting.

AUTHOR

Nicole Canfield

6 years agofrom Summerland

Thanks, Frank! Awesome to hear. :)

Frank Atanacio

6 years agofrom Shelton

You know kitty your hubs have become my little own private wiki nut search I love them! and this one is no exception :)

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